Toko Aakster wrote:
Thomas Pate wrote:I wonder if it would chop up in one of those cheap wood chippers then you could just do a little at a time. That’s how I got rid of a huge patch of forsythia once. I would leave some so you have a never ending supply of biomass
Regarding Harvesting: most people I've observed who work with bamboo full-time prefer to use a machete or loppers. Fast hacking cuts just to topple the culm, or a rough snip, and using a saw for later precision work turning it into something. Less work per-stalk, since you have to go through a LOT of culms to clear bamboo
Hi Toko, what kind of loppers are they using? I have a set that works well on the smaller canes but they're not big enough to cut the larger ones. Also, I'm not sure I have the physical heft to make a machete work for me, as much fun as that sounds to whack my way through the bamboo forest. That stuff is hard!
You're definitely right about it being invasive and choking out any other plants, which is the main reason I want to get rid of it and replace it with natives and other non-invasive food/pollinator plants. There are other large stands in the neighborhood that I can easily harvest from without any issue if I need or want bamboo for projects, fuel, food, whatever (including one directly across the street ).
Thomas, I'm intrigued by the wood chipper idea...that would make excellent mulch! Or compost!
Thank you both for your ideas
